📚 From Hollywood charisma to penning stories, Keanu Reeves can do it all. His latest project, The Book of Elsewhere — written alongside author China Miéville — offers another welcome addition to the celebrated actor’s oeuvre. This novel pairs the action-driven roots of Reeves’ BRZKR comic series with Miéville’s distinctive storytelling — generating an engaging narrative that mixes existential dread with a search for meaning.

At the heart of the plot is Unute, a man who has been alive for 80k years. Born from lightning and prayers, Unute saw civilizations rise and fall, dying multiple times only to be reborn again. While he’s been both loved as a god and feared as a demon, Unute himself doesn’t buy into either designation. Fast forward to the 21st century, and he’s stuck working for the US Army Special Forces, who see his violent episodes as a tactical advantage.

The story kicks into gear with a series of strange moments: The brief reanimation of a soldier, the appearance of an immortal Indonesian deer-pig, and the rise of a mysterious self-help group. As Unute and his military handlers investigate these bizarre events, the lines between ally and enemy blur, leaving him to wrestle with his immortality.

The book leans into familiar tropes but is itself a rare hybrid: Blending ancient warriors, ultraviolence, and moral ambiguity, the novel offers those who want a deep exploration of immortality and meaning a welcome treat.

You can find it at Cherry Blossom Books.

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